Slow-Cooker Sausage Stuffing

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces plus more for greasing the slow cooker
• 1 large crusty loaf of French bread or two baguettes (not sourdough), cut into 1-inch pieces and staled overnight (about 14 cups)
• 1 large onion, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
• 2 medium carrots, cut into 1/3-inch pieces (about 1 heaping cup)
• 2 stalks celery, cut into 1/3-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely-minced fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
• 2 tablespoons roughly-chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 6-quart slow cooker with butter.
2. Toss the stale French bread, butter, onions, carrots, celery, thyme and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper in the slow cooker.
3. Pour the chicken broth over the bread mixture and toss to coat.
4. Use your hands to tear teaspoon-size pieces of the Italian sausage and put them directly on top of the bread mixture.
5. The sausage should cover most of the stuffing.
6. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low until the sausage is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, about 4 hours.
7. Remove the lid and gently stir the sausage into the stuffing.
8. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper.
9. Transfer to a shallow serving dish and garnish with the chopped parsley.
10. Serve hot.

unsalted butter, crusty, onion, carrots, stalks celery, thyme, kosher salt, chicken broth, sausage, parsley

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-sausage-stuffing.html (may not work)